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2006 Alcan Prize for Sustainability Awarded to India's Barefoot College

2006 Alcan Prize for Sustainability Awarded to India's Barefoot College

Published 11-29-06

Submitted by Rio Tinto Alcan

NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 29, 2006 -- Alcan and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2006 US$1 million Alcan Prize for Sustainability is India's Barefoot College. The Alcan Prize annually recognizes NGOs, not-for-profit, and civil society organizations working to build sustainable societies around the world. The Alcan Prize is managed independently by the IBLF.

"We are very pleased to congratulate the Barefoot College as the winner of the third annual Alcan Prize for Sustainability," said Daniel Gagnier, Senior Vice President, Corporate and External Affairs, Alcan Inc. "The Barefoot College makes a valuable contribution to India's rural and impoverished citizens by providing them with necessary and practical skills to improve their communities," he added.

Since 1972, Barefoot College has improved the lives of India's poorest people by emphasizing practical knowledge and skills over paper qualifications through a learning-by-doing process of education. Barefoot addresses the issues of drinking water, female education, health and sanitation, rural unemployment, income generation, electricity and power, as well as social awareness and the conservation of ecological systems in rural communities.

"The Alcan Prize is a validation of Barefoot's community-based model of development. The strength of our organization is a testament to the will power and hard work of our students. Their abilities are a constant source of inspiration," said Bunker Roy, Barefoot College Executive Director.

Located in Tilonia in India's northwest Rajasthan state, the Barefoot College was selected from a field of almost 200 entries from 55 countries around the world by an international adjudication panel of distinguished experts on sustainability.

"The Barefoot College has created an inspirational ripple effect in rural India and communities in other countries through its innovative work in demonstrating how empowerment, grass roots technology and education enables people to promote sustainable communities and better control their destinies," said Robert Davies, IBLF Chief Executive Officer.

"The Barefoot College is a remarkable organization that impressed and inspired us with their sustainable impact on environmental, economic, social and cultural issues. They have effected great change through strong leadership and partnerships, which coupled with their grassroots approach serves to empower the poorest of the poor," added David Runnalls, Chairman of the adjudication panel and President and CEO of International Institute for Sustainable Development.

In addition to the Alcan Prize, the Adjudication Panel also awards US$15,000 Alcan Grants to enable finalist organizations to build capacity in cross-sector partnerships through a program coordinated by Cambridge University in the U.K. The 2006 Alcan Grant winners are:

  • Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW), Germany
  • Naandi Foundation, India
  • Fundación del Empresariado Chihuahuense, Mexico
  • Sustainable Energy Africa, South Africa
  • Instituto Terra, Brazil

    Previous winners of the Alcan Prize include the Forest Stewardship Council (2004) and the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services Pakistan (2005).

    Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 65,000 employees in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of $20.3 billion in 2005. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index consecutively since 2003. For more information, please visit: www.alcan.com.

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    Rio Tinto Alcan

    Rio Tinto Alcan

    About Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

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